Love Streams

Love Love Love #2

I never realized the sense of security that comes when inspiration flows freely like the rain that’s been falling for several days. This activity is a useful practice to stave off practical concerns of the world; useless thoughts and emotions. Creative inspiration also balances aspirations for success; however we define it.

So when this inspiration eludes us for any amount of time it’s disconcerting.

That’s why relief washed over me at lunch when Matthew Heller shared this, “Right now I have a blankness of who I am as an artist, which is terrifying and exhilarating because I have an open world to me of what I could do.”

We talked about the creative process when moving from one phase to the next. He agreed that a plan can be “understanding that you don’t need to know what’s next.” What’s important is not being lazy; continuously working through what may seem like a “mess” to get to what your next piece of art will become.

Art will evolve through your actions.

My own writing process in influenced by interests that are far-reaching, from art and fashion to the business of marketing, so my splintered inspiration is never linear. Matthew shared that his work sometimes evolves from a phrase that could be a song title into a single word that inspires a painting. It’s not easy to talk about art, but we had fun.

Inspiration shifts as life circumstances change. Matthew’s work in 2006 contained clear positive emotional content influenced by his personal life. Art discussions and Matthew’s explanations came easily. His audience understood why the painting made sense in their life. In 2009, perhaps because Matthew has a family of his own now, he keeps his personal life close to the breast and his work is less universal on a human emotional level; though it is all about the universe. The work is more challenging to understand and more difficult to discuss.

Untitled

This shift in his work has changed Matthew’s relationship with his audience. Then people connected with his art more as objects to hang on their walls, and now people want to look at the art and “think.” He got many inquiries from his most recent show at Bergamot Station, at both the gallery and direct to him, about the art and its meaning even thought he’s doing much less explaining than he used to.

Matthew’s work has increased significantly in value over the past few years. His newer content is affording him deeper connections with his buyers through fewer pieces. If economics are an issue, Matthew’s audience can experience his work in a museum like settings through his gallery showings and reach out and talk to him about their experience, even if they can’t carry a piece home and hang it.

Matthew’s accessibility as an artist has been greatly helpful in my own journey. The confirmation that not knowing is okay but continuing to work through the unknown is an important lesson for us all. Inspiration does not come to the lazy.

Matthew shows again in March.